William O. Wirsching

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-357312

Other Events:

• Misfortune: killed in industrial accident
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-88611
• Occupation: 1911, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Salesman, ? Store

Notes:

Orville Wirsching

The funeral of the late Orville Wirsching, who died as a result of injuries received Friday night, at the Crown Furniture building, will be held tomorrow morning. Public service will be held in the Roman Catholic church at 9.30.

The Chronicle-Telegraph 6 May 1920 pg 8

Orval married Martina O. Gehl 18 Apr 1917, West Branch, Ogemaw, Michigan, United States. Martina was born 10 Nov 1894, , Ogemaw Co., Michigan; died 19 Nov 1974, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Saint Clements Roman Catholic Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Martina O. Wirsching
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-357311
• Residence: 1974, 406 Church St. N., Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada

Notes:

WIRSCHING, Mrs. Martina

Of 406 Church St. N., Cambridge Preston, at the South Waterloo Memorial Hospital, on Tuesday, Nov. 19, in her 81st year. Beloved wife of the late, Orville Wirsching; dear mother of the late Orville Wlrsching Jr.; loving sister of Mrs. Susan Fries of California. Mrs, Wirsching was a resident of the Preston area, for the past 65 years, a member of St. Clement's RC Church, the Catholic Women's League and League of the Sacred Heart. She is resting at the Barthel-Stager Funeral Home, Preston Cambridge, until Friday morning. Then to St. Clement's RC Church for funeral mass, at 10 a.m. Interment following in St. Clement's cemetery.

Kitchener-Waterloo Record 20 Nov 1974 pg 35

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-112041
• Occupation: 1901, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mason
• Occupation: 1911, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mason, Building
• Residence: 1911, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Roman Catholic

Notes:

LIFE LONG CITIZEN DIED THIS MORNING
EDWARD WIRSCHING HAD BEEN IN POOR HEALTH FOR LONG TIME

A well known citizen of Preston, Edward Wirsching, died at his home, 635 Laurel street, at 9: 45 a.m. today. While he had been ailing for over two years, he had been confined to his bed only three weeks before his death. In his 59th year, Mr. Wirsching was born in Preston in January 1864, and had lived in town all his life, being actively egaged [sic] in the contracting business until his health failed. He married Miss Margaret White, of Galt, in April 1891. Left to mourn his loss are his wife, two daughters, Ida and Grace, at home: two brothers, John, of Florida, and Henry, of Preston; and four sisters, Mrs. Chris. Klankie, of Burlington, Mrs. Minnie Mast, of Hespeler, Mrs. Charles Merkel, of Hamilton, and Mrs. Emil Ewald, of Brantford. The funeral will be held at 9 a.m. on Saturday to St. Clements R.C. Church and thence to the R.C. cemetery.

Galt Evening Reporter - Wednesday December 6, 1922, page 4.

Edward married Margaret "Maggie" White Apr 1891, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Margaret (daughter of Patrick White and Jane Skelly) was born 5 May 1868, Beverly Twp., Wentworth Co., Ontario, Canada; died 1940; was buried , Saint Clements Roman Catholic Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Maggie White
• Name: Margaret "Maggie" Wirsching
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-88610
• Residence: 1871, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Roman Catholic
• Residence: 1891, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Roman Catholic
• Residence: 1911, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Roman Catholic

Other Events:

• Name: Carl Wirsching
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-112036
• Occupation: 1871, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Teamster
• Occupation: 1881, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mason
• Occupation: 1891, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Stone Mason
• Residence: 1891, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran

Notes:

The death occurred yesterday at two p.m., at the Galt hospital, of Mr. Charles Wirsching. Mr. Wirshing, who was a resident of Preston for the past sixty-six years, was well known, and in his death the town loses one of its oldest citizens. The family of the deceased consists of three sons and five daughters viz., John, Edward and Henry of town; Mrs. Mast, Michigan; Mrs. Merkel, of Hamilton; Mrs. Emil Ewald, Waterloo; Miss Maggie Hamilton, and Mrs. Kelonky, Burlington. The funeral will be held from the home of his son, Mr. John Wirsching on Wednesday at two p.m., interment to take place at Preston cemetery.

Galt Weekly Reformer - 3 February 1910, page 5. (From Monday's Daily)

Charles — Margaret Schnitzer. Margaret was born 1833, , Germany; died Yes, date unknown; was buried , Preston Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Margaret Wirsching
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-112037

Other Events:

• Occupation: tollgate operator
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-74333
• Immigration: 1855
• Residence: 1864, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Occupation: 1871, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Agricultural Laborer
• Residence: 1871, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lot 5 Con 10
• Residence: 1871, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Roman Catholic
• Occupation: 1881, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1881, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Roman Catholic
• Occupation: 1891, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1891, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Roman Catholic
• Occupation: 1901, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer

Notes:

Man inherits lock for old Galt tollgate.


The lock Ken Simpson holds is large and heavy, made to withstand the perils of time. It was passed down to him from his father, Oscar, and once secured the tollgate that crossed the old Stone road at the corner of Main Street and the Dundas Highway.

Most people would be surprised to learn that if you lived in Galt in the 1800s, or were a farmer just down the highway towards Dundas, and you wanted to use that road, you were required to pay a toll.

More than a half-century ago Howard Cant discovered A photograph of the old toll gate amongst his souvenirs of the past. The Galt Reporter reprinted it almost immediately, evoking many memories for old-time residents. But by a strange coincidence, 79-year-old Albert Robb was visiting town from Thessalon and had been interviewed by a reporter just days before. It was his first visit to his old hometown in 60 years, since he left Galt at the age of 19 in 1890. As a boy his chore was to open the gate for travellers over the old road.

Albert's mother, Mrs. Jas. Robb, had operated the toll gate before Patrick White. The fee at that time was five Cents. White, who was also a milkman in town, was the last gatekeeper. He lived in close proximity to the tollgate headquarters, in a big white frame house in which his grandson, Ed Taylor, was to inhabit. Pat White's sons, Jim and Ed, took turns as gatekeepers. By then, the fee had gone up to 10 cents a vehicle, though farmers paid a reduced annual fee because of their frequent use of the road to do business.

The old Stone road to Dundas, originally of corduroy construction, was privately built. It had been the main incoming road to Galt since the town was founded in 1816, and it had been difficult to build, as it crossed the Beverly Swamp, where it is said that some people who entered were never seen again.

AS for the lock that came down to Ken Simpson, the story of how it made its way into his hands is rather interesting.

As was noted, Ken inherited the lock from his father Oscar. Oscar was given the lock from Harold Jenkins. Jenkins, who never married, was a local thrasher who went to the Ed Taylor farm (where the Swiss Chalet/Harvey's, as well as South Cambridge Centre are now located) to thrash. Hooked over the granary board in the barn, which became a coal shed, was this lock, a lock that was old even then.

Said Harold to Ed: "If you're going to leave that lock there, then I'm going to take it home."

Replied Ed: "Well, if you're going to take it home, I'm going to get the key for you."

Jenkins had quite a collection of historical memorabilia and wanted the lock to go to Oscar Simpson, who farmed out near Branchton. Among the Jenkins' memorabilia was a bike that his older brother once rode over a high wire stretched across Niagara Falls. For years, recalls Ken, the bike sat collecting dust up in the hayloft of the Branchton Hotel barn that Harold's mother had run. She was a Hammer stein from the States, and related to the musical Oscar Hammerstein of Rodgers and Hammerstein fame.

Journalist Dave Menary is a lifelong residence of Cambridge. His column runs every Tuesday.

Cambridge Times 14 Jan 2003

Patrick married Jane Skelly 17 Jan 1864, Paris, Brant County, Ontario, Canada. Jane (daughter of William Skelly and Mary Halpin) was born 20 Oct 1836, , Ontario, Canada; died 10 Aug 1912; was buried , St. Mary Of The Visitation Roman Catholic Cemetery, Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo, Ontario. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Jane White
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-74334
• Residence: 1864, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1871, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Roman Catholic
• Residence: 1881, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Roman Catholic
• Residence: 1891, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Roman Catholic
• Residence: 1911, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Roman Catholic